Mayor Kasim Reed says city facilities will be gun free

Countering the declaration of Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has ordered all city facilities to be gun-free zones.

Reed said that “with the exception of certain public safety officials and employees, there is no place for firearms in a city facility. Every City of Atlanta government facility that screens the entrance into the facility with security personnel will continue to prohibit firearms.”

“Furthermore, City of Atlanta employees have all been notified that the new state law does not authorize them to carry firearms while on duty or store weapons in personal vehicles that are parked in secured employee parking lots.”

Deal signed legislation in April that permits licensed firearm owners to carry their guns in public places. The law went into effect Tuesday.

The bill has been nicknamed the “guns in bars” bill because bars, along with libraries, schools, churches and airports, are among the many public places in which gun owners are now allowed to carry their guns.